D&D (2024) "Sword" and Board Build?

[Horwath]

After more experience in 2024, If you are looking at a single classed fighter Sword and Board, I think the best is an Eldritch Knight with Warcaster and Hex through Fey Touched.

I think this because with sword and board you want to really cash in on your high AC, so Warcaster with Shield spell gives you a very high AC. At 9th level you can use Sap with any weapon making this even better. Getting Hex and combining it with the Eldritch Knight 7th level feature means you will stay ahead of a basic PAM sword and board. Using two feats on Int/Wisdom/Cha can be tough, but you get the extra feat so it is workable.

If you are not going to play an EK, then I would look at getting Defensive Dualist, which is going to tie you to a finesse weapon, and probably piercer to go with it.

depending on how irritating your DM is with S components and weapons, HM might be better than Hex as it has only V component and force damage is more reliable than necrotic.

Also this is the only place where I will praise Ranger, it's a great 1-3 level dip on a fighter.
when you have Con save proficiency and next to no other spells to compete for your CONC slot, it's great

 

[Quartz]

How does the canonical spear and shield build fare? In 2014 5E it was good because you could use Duellist for bonus damage and PAM to get the butt strike of the spear as a Bonus Action.

 

[Zardnaar]

How does the canonical spear and shield build fare? In 2014 5E it was good because you could use Duellist for bonus damage and PAM to get the butt strike of the spear as a Bonus Action.

I don't recall any specific builds. It's not TEF, a great weapon, or using shillagh/true strike combo in some capacity.

Unless there's some build I'm not familiar with probably average.

 

[mellored]

How does the canonical spear and shield build fare? In 2014 5E it was good because you could use Duellist for bonus damage and PAM to get the butt strike of the spear as a Bonus Action.

Works the same.

Possibly a little better since Spear has Sap, which boost your defense.

 

[FrogReaver]

Zealot '24 is a tank-king sword & board guy. Resistance to S/P/B, HD 12, bonus action 12HD healing, easy access to double HD healing from uncommon periapt of wound closure, advantage on dex saving throw + shield mastery for 0 dmg dex saving throw, + sap master. Then modal options if you want to flip-the-switch to Reckless and brutal attacks. Then high mobility if you are unarmored, solid attribute char.... Ah yes: Lastly, The Piss Badger is a thorn in the side of many-a-PC

Zealot seems like it would be hard to beat.

 

[ECMO3]

depending on how irritating your DM is with S components and weapons, HM might be better than Hex as it has only V component and force damage is more reliable than necrotic.

With the new weapon switching rules it is not really an issue any more I don't think. The force damage is better as you point out, but Hex is a much better spell.

The tough one is Shield which you really want and you need warcaster to use effectively..

 

[darkwing]

I was theory crafting a fighter/rogue with heavy armor, shield and rapier (using str, not dex) recently. It seems pretty good on paper, at least if you like high ac and strong opportunity attacks. Key feat is Sentinel, along with Battlemaster for Riposte. The goal is to get off turn sneak attacks.

 

[Zardnaar]

I was theory crafting a fighter/rogue with heavy armor, shield and rapier (using str, not dex) recently. It seems pretty good on paper, at least if you like high ac and strong opportunity attacks. Key feat is Sentinel, along with Battlemaster for Riposte. The goal is to get off turn sneak attacks.

Saw that in 2014 rules. Similar idea but skill expertise athletics and shield master feat.

 

[Zardnaar]

With the new weapon switching rules it is not really an issue any more I don't think. The force damage is better as you point out, but Hex is a much better spell.

The tough one is Shield which you really want and you need warcaster to use effectively..

Might need warcaster at 4th depending on how strict DM is.
New jump spell seems a no brainer with EK.

 

[Horwath]

With the new weapon switching rules it is not really an issue any more I don't think. The force damage is better as you point out, but Hex is a much better spell.

Well, that really depends on what you have in party, if you are good ar Perception and Survival then HM is good if you need to track the target, Hex is better if you have a rogue in the party that abuses combat Stealth, then you hex the wis checks of the target.

The tough one is Shield which you really want and you need warcaster to use effectively..

whenever DMs gets too strict about M components and weapons, I pull up "morninglord of Lathander art":